Combination slip tube gauge and evacuating means for liquefied gas storage tanks



1943- L. J. WHITE 2,326,1 8

COMBINATION SLIP TUBE'GAUGE AND EVACUATING MEANS FOR LIQUEFIED GAS STORAGE TANKS Filed Oct. 12, 1959 Patented 10, 1943 COMBINATION SLIP TUBE GAUGE AND EVACUATING MEANS, FOR LIQUEFIED GAS STORAGE TANKS Loyd J. White, San Antonio, Tex., assignor to Southern Steel Company, San Antonio, Tex., a corporation of Texas 1 Application October 12, 1939, Serial No. 299,213 I 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in underground liquefied gas dispensing systems of idea is to simplify the connections to a composite or unitary fitting having provision to evacuate the tank so that the fitting may be made as compact and economically as possible.

Other aims andadvantages of the invention will appear in the specification, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing,

wherein: I

Fig. 1 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, showing one form of the invention applied to an underground system;

Fig. 2 is a-vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the system there shown is similar to the one disclosed in the aforesaid application Ser. No.'280,210, except that, in the present ,instance,'the underground storage tank III is shown as having a sump portion near the middle, like the tank disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 299,214 filed October 12, 1939 (3645), to enable the contents of the tank to be removed. In this example,

movable cover 2!: although it is to be understood that the appurtenances may be made ac-. cessible from above the ground and the regulator tion slip tube and evacuating conduit 22 extending downwardly into the sump portion of the tank iii through the standpipe. This tube is shown as being slidably mounted at its upper end portion in an adapter sleeve 23 having a stufling gland 24, said sleeve being screw threaded into an 0pening25 in the upper wall of the fitting 12 in the same manner as is disclosed in the aforesaid application Ser. No. 280,210. The upper end of the tube is secured to a head 26 having a screw threaded skirt or flange 21 screwed on the upper end 01 the adapter sleeve 23 and adapted to be unscrewed when the tube 22 is used in the ordinary manner as a slip tube gauge. The upper end of the head 26 carries a spring-urged check valve 28 closed against a seat in a hollow plug 29 on top of the head. A removable cap 30 protects a hose coupling extension 3i on the plug 29. The construction of the valve and associated parts is preferably identical with the evacuating valve assembly shown in Fig. 5 of my application Ser. No. 299,211 filed October 12, 1939 (3635).

The arrangement is such that when a suction hose is connected to the hose fitting 3i, it automatically opens the valve 28 to permit liquid to be pumped out or flow out of the tank. Incidentally, the tube 22 is. preferably larger than the usual slip tube to permit adequate flow of liquid to evacuate the tank in a reasonable time.

The head is shown as having an elongated chamber 82 above the end of the tube 22 and a combination spring abutment and valve seat 33 is mounted in the chamber intermediate its ends being held in place by a spring locking ring 34. An ordinary spring urged excess flow valve 35 is shown in the bottom part of the chamber below the abutment and is adapted to close against the valve seat on the lowerface oi the abutment.

In this instance, the head has a bleed opening 36 leading from the chamber 32 below the valve seat 33 and closed by a needle valve.or screw plug 31.- When the tube 22 is used as a gauge,

buried in the ground as shown and'describedin my copending application Ser. No. 299,212, filed October 12 1939 (.3642). l

In the present instance. thecomposite or unitary fitting I2 is shown as carrying a combinathe head is unscrewed from the adapter sleeve and the bleeder valve S'Iis opened to emit vapor or liquid through the bleeder opening 36 and a lateral p ssage 38 as the tube is raised or lowered in the tank to find the liquid level. The shape and size of the head are such that itaflords a convenient hand grip for the operator to manipw late the sliptube. Moreover, its weight and the friction excess in the adapter sleeve and stufllng box due to the increased diameter oi the tube 22 over the usual diameter 0! an ordinary slip tube will tend to prevent the slip tube from being blown upwardly due to the pressure in the tank and injuring the operator. When the head is screwed on the adapter sleeve, as shown in Fig. 3, the lower end of the skirt is seated against a sealing Washer 39 to prevent gas which may leak through the stufilng box from escaping to the atmosphere. Incidentally, the screw threaded upper end of the adapter sleeve is shown as hav 7 ing a. venting conduit or channel 40 leading downwardly to the lower end portion of the threads just above the-washer 39 so that, when the head is initially unscrewed and uncovers the necessary adjustment of the gland nut. In case I of excessive leakage of gas, the operator can v evacuate the tank through the head and tube 22 without removing it.

As shown in the aforesaid application Ser. No.

I 280,210, the hose coupling extension 3| on the hollow plug 29 is weakened by an annular kerf Ill at its junction with the plug to such an extent that anyundue tension on the hose due to accidental movement of a service truck or to other causes, will break ofi the coupling extension without damaging the fittings below or bending the tube 22. As soon as the hose breaks the fitting extension, the check valve 28 will close automatically to prevent the escape of any gas. Thus,

accidental breakage of the slip tube and evacuation assembly permitting escape of gas from the fitting is avoided.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the evacuation valve attachment on an ordinary slip tube gauge is relatively simple and easy to install without involving any added expense of providing an extra evacuation tube in the tank an'd a separate valve fitting or valve assembly in the unitary fitting or head. Moreover, it is easy to install and very simple in its operation. Furthermore, it is to be distinctly understood that such an evacuating valve attachment may be applied to any slip tube gauge, whether or not the gauge is associated with a unitary fitting.

Obviously, the present invention is not re-! stricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the inventionbe used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

What is claimed is:

1. In a liquefied gas system having an underround pressure storage tank, a standpipe connected to the tank; filling and gas. dispensing means connected to said standpipe; a valved f tubular depth gauge slidably carried by said standpipe and projecting through the, bottom below the check valve.

2. In a liquefied gas system of the class do? scribed having an underground pressure storage tank and a single standpipe connected thereto, a unitary fitting having filling and dispensing means connected to the'standpipe; a slip tube gauge slidably assembled in the fitting and extending to the bottom of the tank; an evacuating check valve in the upper end of the slip tube,

whereby the liquefied gas in the tank may be removed through the slip tube; and a small bleeder valve in the tube'below the check valve.

3. In a liquefied gas system of the class described having an underground pressure storage tank and a standpipe connected thereto, aunitary fitting having filling and dispensing means connected to the standpipe; a slip tube gauge assembled on the fitting; a hollow head on the upper end of the slip tube having a bleeder valve; an evacuating check valve in the, hollow head; and a hose coupling extension on the. head so arranged that a suction hose may be attached to the head for removing the liquefied gas from the tank.

4. In a liquefied gas system of the class described having an underground pressure storage tank and a standpipe connected thereto, a unitary fitting having filling and dispensing means connected to the standpipe; a slip tube gauge assembled on the fitting; a screw threaded adapter I sleeve in the unitary fitting; a hollow head on' the upper end of theslip tube having, a screw threaded'sleeve adapted to be screwed on the adapter sleeve; a bleeder valve carried by the hollow head; an evacuating check valve in the upper end of the hollow head; and an excess fiow check valve arranged below the bleeder valve.

5. In a liquefied gas dispensing system of the class described having an underground storage tank and a standpipe connected thereto, a. valved fitting connected to the upper end of the standpipe; a combination slip tube gauge and evacuating means carried by the fitting; and coacting means on the fitting and the-slip tube gauge releasably securing the slip tube with respect to the fitting in position to be used for evacuating the tank. v a

6. As an article of manufacture, a slip tube depth gauge having a bleeder valve and an evacuating valve adapted to be connected to a pressure storage tank to determine the liquid level therein and to evacuate the contents thereof.

. 'LOYD J. WHITE. 

